Commissioning 2015

O

Ohio2015Parent

5-Year Member
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Dec 2, 2010
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So, it was a long time ago that I found this great forum, December 2011 to be exact. I do not know how I would have survived the last 4 years without the support of all the great members here. Just wanted to reach out to all of you, especially those with cadets commissioning this year to say thank you.

Also, one last request for support....DS commissions this upcoming Saturday, May 2. I am very nervous about the last mintue, "oh, wait, xyz went wrong" or "hey, he can't do that because of xyz..." Its just been that kind of path for him. I would love to touch base with anyone else wanting to share these last days for me(weeks for some of you).

Oh, and on a technical note - any suggestions for getting those pesky little hooks to work with their new shoulder "bling" while crying would be greatly appreciated. ;)
 
Ohio2015Parent said:
So, it was a long time ago that I found this great forum, December 2011
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Just a small correction, you joined December of 2010.

As for the shoulder boards, put you finger in between the hooks, press down and then squeeze the two sides together a bit, makes them clip in easier. Easier said then done with fogged up glasses.

Couldn't agree with you more, it's been a long and wild ride, this will be seven years and two sons for us, Younger son doesn't commission until May 15th but it's coming fast.
 
Ohio2015Parent said:
So, it was a long time ago that I found this great forum, December 2011 to be exact. I do not know how I would have survived the last 4 years without the support of all the great members here. Just wanted to reach out to all of you, especially those with cadets commissioning this year to say thank you.

Also, one last request for support....DS commissions this upcoming Saturday, May 2. I am very nervous about the last mintue, "oh, wait, xyz went wrong" or "hey, he can't do that because of xyz..." Its just been that kind of path for him. I would love to touch base with anyone else wanting to share these last days for me(weeks for some of you).

Oh, and on a technical note - any suggestions for getting those pesky little hooks to work with their new shoulder "bling" while crying would be greatly appreciated. ;)
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Congratulations to you and your son. Just make sure you give whoever is taking pictures enough time to get some shots when you are up there putting the bars on.
 
EDelahanty said:
Congratulations to you and your son. Just make sure you give whoever is taking pictures enough time to get some shots when you are up there putting the bars on.
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Yes, it seems that every commissioning ceremony has an epic fail with the bars falling to the floor. A must film for posterity's sake. I remember a double fail from one cadet at my daughter's commissioning. Both fell off in unison.

I recommend practicing before the ceremony.
 
Thanks guys for the tips - I've practiced a few times and we even took a needle nose to open the hooks just a little bit more. Seems going back hook first helped too. DS will kill me if he's the double epic fail at his ceremony:confused:

oh, and we have a film crew - his little sister
 
Congrats to both you and your DS Ohio2015Parent ! If I remember correct your DS was an OARNG SMP cadet, did he get active or the guard and what unit will he end up with?
 
With the kind permission of OP, I've changed the name of the thread to sort of open it up to discuss the upcoming commissioning of all cadets and midshipmen. Exciting times!
 
We have till May 15 to get ourselves ready for this with our DS. You can imagine how proud I was when DS asked to use a set of my butter bars for his commissioning. Mom and I are each going to pin a bar on. With a chest filled with pride, I will be close to busting the buttons on my suit jacket when that big day comes!
 
DS commissions May 15. His mother and I get to pin on his bars.
His first salute will come from one of his grandad, retired sergeant-major USMC after 22 yrs. 3 tours in Vietnam. His other grandad is a Korea army veteran and will watch from the audience as he is too old to walk up and down the steps.

After skipping a generation I'm glad to see all their hard work being carried on.

Congrats to all those commissioning. AD, Guard, or Reserves, it's appreciated.
 
QA1517 said:
DS commissions May 15. His mother and I get to pin on his bars.
His first salute will come from one of his grandad, retired sergeant-major USMC after 22 yrs. 3 tours in Vietnam. His other grandad is a Korea army veteran and will watch from the audience as he is too old to walk up and down the steps.

After skipping a generation I'm glad to see all their hard work being carried on.

Congrats to all those commissioning. AD, Guard, or Reserves, it's appreciated.
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If your boy was commissioning at Clarkson we would have him walk down the steps so he could get both Grand Dads with one salute. Don't be afraid to ask for that accommodation if desired. Commissioning days are all about the Cadets and their families. Can't imagine a Battalion wouldn't allow it.
 
clarksonarmy said:
If your boy was commissioning at Clarkson we would have him walk down the steps so he could get both Grand Dads with one salute. Don't be afraid to ask for that accommodation if desired. Commissioning days are all about the Cadets and their families. Can't imagine a Battalion wouldn't allow it.
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I will have him check into it. Thanks
 
Infantry_Dad said:
Congrats to both you and your DS Ohio2015Parent ! If I remember correct your DS was an OARNG SMP cadet, did he get active or the guard and what unit will he end up with?
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Yes, Infanty Dad, he is OARNG SMP. He will be serving AD Armor(actually branched AG, but branch detailed to AR, his first choice). He was very fortunate.


Also, very happy to see Clarkson and QA1517 maybe working something out for the granddads!!
 
My DS also commissions on the 15th...His Korean Vet Grandfather will do his salute. Unfortunately, his WWII Vet Grandfather just passed away a month ago at 93.
DS really wanted them both to be there.

Is there another forum (Army/USAR/or even combined like this one) that anyone can recommend for continued advice?
 
Sheriff: If the size or design hasn't changed too much, I would think this would be a great thing to do. The bars are likely tarnished and may need to be polished. But the effort and symbolism of using them would make it a special event.

Truth is, most people put the bars on crooked or incorrectly and all the newly commissioned Officers are not "inspection ready" anyway. This commissioning day will involve lots of pictures and events but as long as he isn't out of uniform he should be fine.
 
Agree with Grunt... Use them! He can always change them out later. When our parents and families pinned our bars on half them were all jacked up. We never said a word. When we got a few minutes away from them we had a buddy fix them and moved on.
 
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